About v2Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
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Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by AK Tue 17 Jan 2012, 12:40 am
Just wanted to make a thread saying happy birthday to the great man and where you can leave your birthday messages and also your favorite memory of the man. Mine has to be the moment he first became champ and he went crazy screaming at the press to eat your words.
This was taken from the guardian website and is a nice tribute to the greatest.
It is just over 30 years since he left the ring. And it is almost as long since he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which, ever since, has taunted the supreme athlete he once was. Most of the world's inhabitants had not been born when he fought his epic contests with Joe Frazier, George Foreman and the American military. Yet Muhammad Ali remains to this day one of the most admired human beings on the planet, perhaps still the most widely loved of us all. This newspaper has never loved professional boxing, but Ali always gloriously transcended his sport, which has struggled to survive without him. That he has reached his 70th birthday after the assaults and ravages that have been inflicted on him is another tribute. A lesser man might have become reclusive, content to live in a well-tended retreat. But Ali never turned his face away. The greatest. The people's champ. The words still fit him. Happy 70th birthday, Muhammad Ali.....
This was taken from the guardian website and is a nice tribute to the greatest.
It is just over 30 years since he left the ring. And it is almost as long since he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which, ever since, has taunted the supreme athlete he once was. Most of the world's inhabitants had not been born when he fought his epic contests with Joe Frazier, George Foreman and the American military. Yet Muhammad Ali remains to this day one of the most admired human beings on the planet, perhaps still the most widely loved of us all. This newspaper has never loved professional boxing, but Ali always gloriously transcended his sport, which has struggled to survive without him. That he has reached his 70th birthday after the assaults and ravages that have been inflicted on him is another tribute. A lesser man might have become reclusive, content to live in a well-tended retreat. But Ali never turned his face away. The greatest. The people's champ. The words still fit him. Happy 70th birthday, Muhammad Ali.....
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by horizontalhero Tue 17 Jan 2012, 12:46 am
AK, I wondered if you have read the book Ghosts of Manila? Whilst I wouldn't go as far as calling it a hatchet job, it certainly paints a very different portrait of Ali than most of these sycophantic articles wil. Ali may have been a great man, but he was also greatly flawed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a more warts and all bio of Ali instead of the sugar coated versions that dominate the market.
That said, Happy Birthday Champ.
That said, Happy Birthday Champ.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by John Bloody Wayne Tue 17 Jan 2012, 8:18 am
It seems to have become a trend to pick apart Ali's flaws of late, but he'll always be a hero to me and while he isn't hard to defend I think today is a day for the positives.
Plus, see how he could dance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu2nKcfMS9A
Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
Plus, see how he could dance!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu2nKcfMS9A
Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by The Galveston Giant Tue 17 Jan 2012, 8:27 am
Happy Birthday to the man. Lets hope he has a couple left in him yet. 
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Fists of Fury Tue 17 Jan 2012, 8:33 am
Happy birthday to, without doubt, 'the greatest of all time'.
A genius between those ropes, and a genius outside of them, too. What a boxer, what a character.
A genius between those ropes, and a genius outside of them, too. What a boxer, what a character.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Rowley Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:05 am
horizontalhero wrote:AK, I wondered if you have read the book Ghosts of Manila?
I've read it Hero, whilst I wouldn't necessarily agree with everything it says it does make a nice change from some of the usual Ali biographies which lean heavily to deifying him, have read some that even as a fan make me puke, Kram's book is a timely reminder that like the rest of us he is just a man, with all the flaws men have.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by AK Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:10 am
horizontalhero wrote:AK, I wondered if you have read the book Ghosts of Manila? Whilst I wouldn't go as far as calling it a hatchet job, it certainly paints a very different portrait of Ali than most of these sycophantic articles wil. Ali may have been a great man, but he was also greatly flawed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a more warts and all bio of Ali instead of the sugar coated versions that dominate the market.
That said, Happy Birthday Champ.
No I have not read it, I will be sure to check it out. I do understand where you are coming from, Ali was not perfect he was human and there is no perfect human, we all have our flaws. But looking over his life and all he has done I think overall he stood up for what he believed in and tried to be the best man he could be and that's all anyone can ask of a man. Sure he made mistakes but he has done enough for us to look past those mistakes and appreciate the good things he did inside the ring and out.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by superflyweight Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:19 am
Happy Birthday to "The Greatest"
As for favourite memories - I love the entire build up to the Rumble including the press conference where he came out with the following:
That was Ali at his wittiest and most playful and without the undercurrent of nastiness that was prevalent in Manilla.
As for memories of him in the ring - it's hard to see past the moment where he finally explodes into life in the 8th round against Foreman and finishes Big George off without ever having to throw that final punch.
As for favourite memories - I love the entire build up to the Rumble including the press conference where he came out with the following:
I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick.
I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark.
That was Ali at his wittiest and most playful and without the undercurrent of nastiness that was prevalent in Manilla.
As for memories of him in the ring - it's hard to see past the moment where he finally explodes into life in the 8th round against Foreman and finishes Big George off without ever having to throw that final punch.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Guest Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:25 am
A flawed man, yes, but who of us isn't?
I'd like to believe that if I reach the age of 70 and beyond, my attitude, like that of Ali's, will have softened, mellowed and matured and some of things I believed true in my 20's are shown to be nothing more than the follies of youth.
However, my focus today is soley on celebrating the birthday of, in my opinion, one of the finest sportsman to have graced the planet. On his day, at his peak, in his pomp, there are few who could match the grace and elegance of the man. His personality and showmanship set the bar far higher than any could imagine possible and all that have follwed have been but a pale imitation of him.
Happy Birthday Muhammed, you will always be "The Greatest"
I'd like to believe that if I reach the age of 70 and beyond, my attitude, like that of Ali's, will have softened, mellowed and matured and some of things I believed true in my 20's are shown to be nothing more than the follies of youth.
However, my focus today is soley on celebrating the birthday of, in my opinion, one of the finest sportsman to have graced the planet. On his day, at his peak, in his pomp, there are few who could match the grace and elegance of the man. His personality and showmanship set the bar far higher than any could imagine possible and all that have follwed have been but a pale imitation of him.
Happy Birthday Muhammed, you will always be "The Greatest"
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by SugarRayRussell (PBK) Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:27 am
Everyone has flaws but only Ali can claim to be the most important and iconic sportsman of all time.
Happy birthday.
Happy birthday.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Rowley Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:30 am
DAVE667 wrote:
However, my focus today is soley on celebrating the birthday of, in my opinion, one of the finest sportsman to have graced the planet.
It's Peter Withe's birthday as well!! In that case happy birthday Peter
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by azania Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:33 am
Simply the greatest. My enduring image is of his right hand cocked and Foreman slowly falling down. Poetry.
Also from a non boxing perspective, Ali flying to Bagdad and getting those hostages out. Even Saddam was in awe of him.
Happy birthday Champ. Forever the greatest.
Also from a non boxing perspective, Ali flying to Bagdad and getting those hostages out. Even Saddam was in awe of him.
Happy birthday Champ. Forever the greatest.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Guest Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:35 am
rowley wrote:DAVE667 wrote:
However, my focus today is soley on celebrating the birthday of, in my opinion, one of the finest sportsman to have graced the planet.
It's Peter Withe's birthday as well!! In that case happy birthday Peter
Rowley, why does it ALWAYS have to be about Villa?
Of course Peter Withe must but gutted that Ali spoils his big day every year....bit like my mate Ste whose birthday celebration tend to get curtailed by other pressing matters. His birthday is September 11th (course, I have no excuse for forgetting it either)
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Union Cane Tue 17 Jan 2012, 9:52 am
Happy Birthday Champ.
Natal Felicitations also to Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Sammy Angott, Cus D'Amato, 'Buddy' McGirt and of course Marco Antonio Barrera.
https://www.606v2.com/t20268-on-this-day-january-17th
Natal Felicitations also to Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Sammy Angott, Cus D'Amato, 'Buddy' McGirt and of course Marco Antonio Barrera.
https://www.606v2.com/t20268-on-this-day-january-17th
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by HumanWindmill Tue 17 Jan 2012, 11:02 am
My first hero, and the sole reason that I was bitten by the boxing bug and have remained hopelessly addicted to the sport ever since.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by bhb001 Tue 17 Jan 2012, 11:08 am
Happy Birthday to the Greatest. Just because it was self-proclaimed, doesn't mean he wasn't right. Iconic to the last
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Mr Bounce Tue 17 Jan 2012, 11:58 am
Happy birthday big man. Regardless of what may come along in the future, you changed the face of boxing forever. 
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by ShahenshahG Tue 17 Jan 2012, 1:45 pm
A Man who does rather than a man who says. Happy Birthday Ali.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by SugarRayRussell (PBK) Tue 17 Jan 2012, 2:24 pm
Steve Bunce article on Ali at 70.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/steve-bunce-on-boxing-ali-was-brutal-in-the-ring--and-could-be-horribly-cruel-outside-it-6290600.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/steve-bunce-on-boxing-ali-was-brutal-in-the-ring--and-could-be-horribly-cruel-outside-it-6290600.html
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by milkyboy Tue 17 Jan 2012, 3:28 pm
Not really the place for the 'dark side' arguments but Ali himself admits he winces at some of the things he said and did as a younger man. I think most of us do, as we age.
Happy birthday to my only sporting hero.
Happy birthday to my only sporting hero.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by guildfordbat Tue 17 Jan 2012, 5:07 pm
Disappointed that today of all days some should choose to draw attention to character flaws. Muhammad Ali has been purposeful and entertaining in life as in the ring. The supreme sportsman of the Twentieth Century as well as one of the world's most significant individuals ever. We should all be grateful for the pleasure he has brought us and appreciate his life to date. The Greatest. 
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by Divlar Tue 17 Jan 2012, 7:59 pm
Not just a boxing legend, not just a sporting legend, Muhammad Ali is a total legend.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by John Bloody Wayne Tue 17 Jan 2012, 10:45 pm
Muhammad Ali wrote:The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
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Re: Happy Birthday Muhammad Ali!
by azania Tue 17 Jan 2012, 10:48 pm
John Bloody Wayne wrote:Muhammad Ali wrote:The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
Either he copied Mandela or Mandela copied him. Either way its a very accurate statement.
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